Whose portrait appears in this work, is the fourth son of Rhodes and Rebecca
Bowen Alien. He was born in Providence, Rhode Island, April 24, 1817. He resided at his birth-place
until he was twenty years of age, and during this time he received the advantage of a common school
education. In June, 1837, he sailed on the ship "Atlas," of Mystic, Connecticut (touching at one of
the Azores for supplies), for Possession Island, one of the Crozet group in the Indian Ocean, for the
purpose of obtaining sea elephant oil, at which point the ship arrived on the 6th day of September
following. A few days after the ship and tender - a schooner of about eighty tons - were wrecked at the
same time upon that desolate island, six thousand miles from home. The crew and officers numbered
thirty-seven men. Fifty-two days after the men were taken on board of the French frigate " L'Heroine."
While cruising on the Indian Ocean they spoke the whale ship " North America," of Wihnington, Delaware.
She lacked two whales of being full of oil. A number of her men were sick with the scurvy, and therefore
unable to man the boats. Mr. Alien and nine others were placed on board. By their aid everything that
would hold oil was in a few days filled. The ship sailed for Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, for supplies;
thence for the Cape of Good Hope. Upon her arrival a strong gale was blowing from the land, which made
it unsafe to enter the harbor. The ship's course was then changed for the island of St. Helena,
where Mr. Allen arrived in February, 1838. Soon after landing at Jamestown, early in the morning,
the ten ragged and barefooted men were formed in line by the American consul, in front of his office,
and presented with a rupee each and told to go and enjoy themselves. Having experienced many hardships,
and been confined on shipboard at sea for months, they felt like caged birds let loose, and therefore
concluded to try their freedom by making a pilgrimage to Bonaparte's tomb, about four miles distant.
They found a portion of their way difficult to travel without shoes. Upon their return at evening with
bruised and bloody feet, Mr. Alien, being an American citizen and a destitute shipwrecked sailor in a
foreign land, went to the American consul and asked for the assistance and protection of the United States
Government. He received food, clothing, and a passage home on the ship "John and Elizabeth," of New London,
Connecticut, at which place he arrive^ in March, 1838, within seven miles of the point of his
departure, being absent nearly ten months. His compensation was an actual knowledge of a sailor's life. In
July, 1838, we find Mr. Allen in Stonington, Connecticut, where he embarked in the hardware and tinware
business, and during his residence in the above named town he was twice honored by being elected to the
Lower House of the State Legislature. This occurring in the years 1845-6. He obtained the title of Colonel
by being elected and commissioned to that position in the Eighth Regiment of the Third Brigade of the
Connecticut State Militia. August 10,1849, he sailed from Stonington on the ship " Calumet" for California
via Cape Horn. The ship sprung a leak, went to St. Catherine, Brazil, for repairs; sailed thence on the
voyage, arriving in San Francisco March 8th, 1850. He, with six of the crew, purchased of the supercargo,
for $406, a small sail boat brought upon the ship, and which he had formerly owned in Stonington, and
valued there at about $40. When loaded with men and provisions the gunwale of the boat was but a few
inches above the water. He left the ship early in the morning, the bay fortunately was calm, and proceeded
up the Sacramento, Feather and Yuba Rivers to Marysville, where he sold the boat for §200, and in that
vicinity commenced prospecting and mining along the river from Parks Bar to the head waters of the north
branch of the north fork of the main Yuba, about ten miles above Downieville. In the fall of 1850 be
returned to Parks Bar. In the spring of 1851 he prospected on the north fork of Feather River, and returned
to the Yuba at Roses Bar in May following, and bought what was considered a worked-out claim, for six ounces.
The miners agreed that the new comer had been badly cheated. By thorough work he struck a rich lead which
extended across several claims, and he took" out gold by the pound instead of ounces. Then the miners said
he was lucky. He became generally known in that vicinity, and was frequently called upon to act as an
arbitrator in settling disputes between miners, and to serve upon miners' juries, to protect them against
thieves and scoundrels. He mined on Sucker Flat during the winter of 1851-2 with good success. In the spring
of 1852 he returned home via Nicaraugua route; staying but a short time he returned to California the following
October. On his arrival for the second time in the Golden State he proceeded to Stockton, where he resided during
the winter of 1852-3. In the spring of 1853 he proceeded to the mines on the Yuba River, above Marysville, where
he became very much reduced with the chills and fever. Learning that the climate of Napa Valley was healthy, on
the 3d of November of that year he came to Napa, discontinued the use of medicine, soon recovered his health,
and has not experienced a sick day since. He purchased a farm in Browns Valley, two miles west of Napa City,
and engaged in farming. In 1855 he opened a hardware and tinware store on Brown street, in which he continued
until 1856, when he sold to Mr. W. Smith. Prior to this time he had experimented with the Napa soda water,
and found he could make it marketable. He then contracted for the Soda Springs, he furnishing everything to
start the business and receiving one-third of the net profits; the contract to run for three years. . Soon
after the business began to pay, the title to the Springs became involved in litigation. He then gave his
attention to his old ranch in Browns Valley, where he continued farming. In 1857 he was elected one of the
County Supervisors, and re-elected in 1858. In 1861 he was elected Sheriff, his term commencing in October
of that year and ending in March, 1864. September 22,1863, he was commissioned Captain of the Napa Guard, a
volunteer military company, composed of loyal men, organized for the purpose. of assisting in preserving the
peace of the State in time of war. His company was attached to the Second Brigade, and was ordered into camp
in Alameda County in October, 1863. In 1873 he was appointed Treasurer of the City of Napa, and elected a City
Trustee in 1874, serying two terms. He made his home in Browns Valley until 1867, when he removed to Napa City,
and in 1869 became a partner in the firm of Allen, Parks & Kimball, in the general hardware business, in which
he continued until 1876, when he removed to his present ranch of fifty-three acres, near Napa City, where he
is engaged in farming and grape growing. He was united in marriage to Miss Caroline A. Forshew, who was born
near Maiden on the Hudson River, New York, October, 1821.
W. E. Anderson - Was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, July 2, 1845. When he was ten years of age, his parents
came to California. They came by water, and arrived at San Francisco November 29, 1855. After
about one month they located in Napa Valley, where the father died in the fall of 1861. In 1869
the subject of this sketch returned East, where he remained until February, 1881, when he returned
to California, and located at St. Helena. Here he is engaged in merchandising. He was married
December 31, 1872, to Miss B. Y. Patterson, by whom he has two children, William T. and Guy P.
John Allyn - Son of Mathew and Clara Merrill Allyn, of English descent, was born in
Litchfield County, Connecticut, August 29, 1820, and resided in his birthplace until he was
fourteen years of age. He then moved to Lorain County, Ohio; and at the age of twenty he
undertook to educate himself; and by teaching in the winter, and working at his mechanical
trade in the summer, he was enabled to enter Oberlin College, where he prosecuted his studies
for two years. He then spent the same period at a High School at Quincy, Illinois, and then
entered the Lane Theological Seminary at Cincinnati; and upon graduating from that institution
he had the honor of delivering the
valedictory address of the class of 1846. After graduating, the subject of this sketch moved to Illinois,
locating in Carrollton, and there read law; was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession until
1851. In July of the above year he sailed from New York, coming via, Panama, and arrived in San Francisco
August 30th of the same year. He then followed mining for some time, and again returned to the East,
and resided until the breaking out of the war, when he once more came to this coast, and was appointed
Superintendent of the Marine Hospital at Port Townsend, W. T., for one year; and in March, 1864, moved
to Oakland, and engaged in the real estate business. In May, 1870, Dr. Allyn moved to Napa County, and
in January, 1873, purchased his present delightful: home of six acres in the limits of St. Helena.
The Doctor was married in New Hampshire, June 2,1861, to Miss Sophronia Scott, a native of that place,
and has one surviving child, Charles H., now engaged in mercantile business in Ventura County in this State.
Swen Alstrom - Was born in Carleshom, Sweden, October 5,1825, and there resided until he was
twenty-five years of age,
where he received a common school education. In May, 1851, the subject of this sketch came to America,
arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, July 10th of the above year, where he sojourned until March, 1852.
He then sailed for California on board the "T. B.Wales," coming via Cape Horn, and after a voyage of one
hundred and forty-five days arrived in San Francisco. He immediately found employment in the Rasset House,
where he remained only a short time, and then proceeded to the mines in Grass Valley, but by reason of the
Sacramento fire and the flood of that year he returned to San Francisco, and found employment as porter in
the Occidental Hotel, which situation he held for six years. He then, April 12,1859, became proprietor of
the above hotel, where he remained until the spring of 1861. In the meantime he purchased the White
Sulphur Springs property, in Napa County, and from 1861 to 1866 he was partner in the Lick House,
under the firm name of Alstrom & Co. In the latter year Mr. Alstrom moved to Napa County, and engaged
in running his hotel at the above mentioned springs. He owned this valuable property some twenty years,
and conducted the hotel for fifteen years, when it was sold in 1879. He then moved to St. Helena, and in
April, 1881, he erected the fine hotel he now occupies, the Windsor, which was opened to the public, June
11,1881. Mr. Alstrom is generous to a fault and is obliging and accommodating in his business relations,
and withal the right man in the right place. The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, in San
Francisco, in 1860, to Miss Mary Bremberg, a native of Sweden, by which union they have the following
children: Sophia, Josie, Annie, John, Mamie, Oscar and Herbert.
John Adams - Was born in Howard County, Missouri, April 16, 1834. In. 1842 he moved to south-western
Missouri, where he resided until the spring of 1845. He then joined a train commanded by Mr. English and
went to Oregon, being six months on the route. He settled with his father's family in Yamhill County,
and remained there till July 9,1848. His father, himself and two sisters, then came with pack horses to
California, and went direct to Greenes Springs, and from there to the Salvador Ranch in Napa Valley,
where they spent the winter. In 1849 they went to the mines, and in the fall of that year they moved
to Yolo County and located on Cache Greek, and ranched and traded in stock till 1850. The summer of
that year was spent in Napa Valley, and in the fall John began working for J. M. Harbin. In 1853 he
returned to Missouri, and in 1854 recrossed the plains to .California, and settled on Cache Creek,
and farmed till 1857, when he moved to Suisun, Solano County, where he resided for one year. In 1858
he came to his present place, where he now owns twenty-four hundred acres, and is engaged in farming
and stock raising. He was married October 1,1854, to Miss Polly Adams, a native of Howard County,
Missouri, born September 15, 1828. Their children are Ward, born May 27,1857, Nellie, born August 27,
1859, and Arthur, born January 11,1864.
Christian P. Adamson - Son of Nicholas and Mary Anderson Adamson, was born in Holstein, at that time under
the Danish Government (his parents being German), August 13, 1834. He resided in his birthplace until the
age of sixteen, when he went to sea, and followed a seafaring life until he came to California, He sailed
from New York in a clipper ship via, Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco in April, 1854. He immediately
went to Sonoma County, where he only stayed a short time, when he came to Napa, and worked for W. A. Fisher,
staying around Napa for about eighteen months. He then went to the mines of Parks & Long, on the Yuba River,
and remained for one year and a half. He then moved to Eldorado County, and there embarked in mining, where he
continued about six months, when Mr. Adamson next went to the Fraser River district, and prosecuted mining in
that place. He only remained six months, having some trouble and a few skirmishes with the Indians, when he
returned to Napa, and farmed until 1860. In that year he went to Cariboo, where he remained one year; and
then in 1861 Mr. Adamson once more returned to Napa County, and rented the farm now owned by Garfield,
and followed farming for three years. He next went to Berryessa Valley, and rented the Lawley place, where
he farmed one year. He then rented a farm owned by Clark, and remained the same time as on his previous place.
He then purchased his present place, but still rented a tract of land of two thousand acres on the New York
grant, near Antioch, Contra Costa County, where he fanned three years. He then took some forty mules and
machinery and farming implements, and moved to Stoney Creek, Colosa County, and rented two thousand acres
of the Welsh tract, remaining on that place for four years, and then came to his present place, where he
has since resided. Mr. Adamson owns one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, eighty-seven of which are
in grapes. Married April 11, 1878, to Miss Lizzie Mills, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 22,
1858, by which union they have two children: Frankie, born May 19, 1879; William G., born June 17, 1880.
Horatio N. Amesbury - The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Stonington, New London County, Connecticut,
July 25,1814. He received a common school education at North Stonington, in that county, and at the age of sixteen
commenced learning the trade of wagon and carriage making, serving an apprenticeship of five years. He followed
that trade for the eight succeeding years, and in the meantime was married, March 9, 1836, to Miss Lucy W. Shaw,
of his native town. In 1843 he sailed, as cooper and carpenter, on board the ship " Romulus," on a whaling voyage
to the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific, being absent on this cruise three years. On his return, in 1846, he
engaged in the business of boat building, which he followed successfully for three years, or until the breaking
out of the excitement created by the rich discoveries of gold in California, which led him to go to that far
distant section of the country to seek his fortune, in company with many others of his neighbors and fellow
townsmen. On the 21st of January, 1849, he sailed, with eighty-five other passengers, on board the ship "Trescott,"
and, after a stormy voyage of six months duration, arrived at San Francisco on the 6th of August. After remaining
a few days at San Francisco the ship proceeded to Benicia, where the material, partially prepared for a sloop of
eighteen tons, was taken on shore from the ship and the vessel constructed, which was named the " J. L. Devotion,"
in honor of one of the passengers. Mr. Amesbury and four others constituted the owners of the sloop. After making
several trips to Stockton they finally disposed of the "Devotion" for the sum of §5500. After the sale of the vessel,
Mr. Amesbury was next employed by Dr. Semple to superintend the construction of a small steamer, which was intended
for freight and passenger traffic on the Sacramento River. On the completion of the steamer he was engaged in work
on the Solano Hotel, of Benicia. In July, 1850, he went to Napa, and was employed in building the American House,
and on the completion of that structure he commenced farming, by leasing land of the late Hon. Nathan Coombs,
northeast of his present place, and fanned for two years. In 1852 he purchased the farm on which he now and has
ever since resided, being engaged in wheat and fruit raising. He now owns two hundred and twenty-seven acres,
twenty of which are devoted to orchard and vineyard. In March, 1852, he returned to Stonington, and, after
remaining three weeks, returned, accompanied by his wife, who has ever since resided here. They have one
adopted daughter, who was married to Mr. Frank F. Wright, of Reno, Nevada, on the llth of March, 1880.
Henry Eben Alden - The son of Lyman and Elizabeth Williams Alden, was born in Lincoln, Enox County,
Maine, April 4,1847. There he received a good common school education, and resided-until the age of twenty.
Mr. Alden then branched out for himself and proceeded to Bangor,in his native State, and secured a position
in the wholesale mercantile firm of Thomas Hersy & Co., as salesman, and after three years close application
to business, was promoted to head salesman, a position he held for three years. He was then given sole charge
of a branch retail store for the same firm for two years more. Mr. Alden then purchased the store from his
former employers, and embarked in the mercantile trade, and did an extensive and successful wholesale and
retail business until, through the dishonesty of his head salesman and book-keeper, he was swindled out of
not only the profits but part of the capital of the store. This, in connection with his failing health,
prompted him to remove to this coast, which event occurred in June, 1875. He first located in Vallejo and
followed several different occupations, and his health being somewhat improved he concluded to go into
the mercantile business again. He first entered the employ of A. P. Voorhees, of Vallejo. In a few months
after a brother of the subject of this sketch bought a half interest with Mr. Voorhees. The new firm then
started a branch store in St. Helena, with the subject of our sketch as manager, until 1878, when Mr.
Merriam bought a half interest in the business, and January 17,1878, Mr. Alden bought his brother's interest,
and then was created the present well-known clothing and furnishing house of Alden & Merriam, and it is but
just for us to say that Mr. Alden enjoys the confidence and esteem of the people of Napa County, and to
his perseverance and energy belongs much of the extensive business they now enjoy in their well-appointed
store under the Windsor Hotel Mr. Alden was united in marriage in Vallejo, October 12, 1875, to Miss Carrie
S. Jones, a native of Maine, and by this union they have one living child and one deceased: Sarah M., born
September 4,1876; died December 4,1876. Alice M., born January 12,1878.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 367-373
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